HAU students launch hunger strike over pending demands

Students of Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU) today stepped up their agitation by staging a dharna at Gate Number 4 of the university, where six of them began an indefinite hunger strike in support of their long-pending demands.

The protesting students alleged that despite repeated assurances, the state government and district administration had failed to honour the earlier agreement and even accused the authorities of protecting the culprits. They declared that the hunger strike would continue until all their demands were accepted in writing and implemented.

Dipanshu, Ashu Thakur, Mohit, Rahul, Yogesh and Ajay Kaliraman are among the students who sat on fast, insisting that they would no longer be satisfied with hollow promises or evasive responses. Their demands include the immediate withdrawal of FIRs registered against students, the constitution of an impartial high-level inquiry committee into allegations against the Vice-Chancellor, Chief Security Officer and Registrar, and the inclusion of two elected student representatives in the Academic Council.

They have also sought a written assurance that no legal, academic or disciplinary action would be taken against them in future for participating in protests.

The stir drew support from farmers’ bodies, labour unions and several social organisations, which joined the dharna in solidarity and warned the administration against shielding officials or ignoring student demands. Meanwhile, Nalwa MLA Randhir Panihar, who had played a key role in negotiations between the students and the administration last month, said the government stood by the students. He maintained that the delay in constituting a committee was due to the students not submitting the names of their representatives.